'There is nothing else left to cut' - Telford councillor
A councillor has said "enough is enough" when it comes to cuts at Telford and Wrekin Council and there is nothing else left to cut.
After the council's cabinet agreed to raise council tax by 3.2 per cent on Thursday evening, Lib Dem and Independent leader Bill Tomlinson praised the Labour-run authority for putting the region in a healthy financial position, with more cuts to come in the future.
He said: "This authority has done well, and is in a health financial position but the picture for the future is scary.
"Enough is enough, we can't keep having these cuts year in and year out.
"I am glad we are in this position, but there will be more pressures that will increase and there can't be any more cuts. There is nothing left to cut."
Councillor Lee Carter explained in his report, that outlined the tax increase and financial position, that the council had made £117 million of cuts since 2010, and would still need another £28 to £30 million of annual savings by 2022.
Following confirmation of the rise, Councillor Carter hit out at the government over what he says is a “crazy situation” where the authority still has to cut services despite increasing council tax.
He said: "Government policy continues to push the burden of cuts in local government grant on to the council tax payer, a challenge that will only get greater in the years ahead if the government do not recognise the essential work done by councils."
